The Serai Bandipur

Bandipur National Park, Karnataka

The Serai stretches alongside Bandipur National Park, a Tiger Reserve in south India which teems with wildlife. Inspired by the game lodges of Africa, The Serai boasts exceptional accommodation with views of the majestic Nilgiris Hills.

Call us on (858) 523-9000 to start planning your vacation to The Serai Bandipur or take a look at our itineraries to Kerala and Karnataka

Description

The architecture of the Serai has been inspired by the game lodges of Africa. Thatched roofs, arresting animal prints in each room, large glass doors, wooden floors, open verandas, an richness of strong-beamed wood work and delightful little touches like the large Nagra drums, used in the durbars of old. All these come together to put you in another realm, at another time, and in complete harmony with the dense forests around you.

Bandipur National Park, teems with wildlife, and provides a safe haven to a wide swathe of wildlife, which includes the four horned Antelope, Gaur, Asiatic Elephant, Leopard, Sloth bear, black napped hare, black leopard and a host of bird species like the Barbet, Babbler, Warbler and the Indian Peafowl.

Accommodation

The Serai offers accommodation ranging from huts to residences that have stunning views of the Nilgiris. The 18 courtyards here come in two categories: Mountain View Courtyards that feature gardens and verandas, and the Mountain View Courtyard Superiors that come with separate living rooms. For a more luxurious stay, the property offers 4 Mountain View Log Huts built on slightly raised stilts featuring a mini-bar and a private veranda, and 2 Residence that come with private roof-tops complete with day-beds.

Facilities

Activities

Nature walks: Venture out with our trained naturalist, whose keen eye will point out different pugmarks, spoor, ferns, trails and other interesting aspects of wild living, that a city-dweller would find fascinating.

Bonfire: A crackling bonfire is one of The Serai’s talking points - trading stories and drinks - under a starlit sky.

Day trip to Ooty: A day trip to the Queen of Hill Stations, Ootacamund or Ooty, 90 km away, can also be arranged. 2290 m above sea level, Ooty offers hills and vales and lakes and the cutest of chocolate shops and eateries. Some tourist favorites are the Pykara Lake, Botanical Garden, Ooty Lake, Rose Garden, Dodabetta, Kothagiri and the plantation town of Coonoor.

Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta: The highest peak in Bandipur National Park, is known for its 360 degree spectacular views. Across the hilltop is the 700 year old temple of Lord Venugopala Swamy. This temple was built by the Hoysala King Ballala during 1315 AD. Later the Wodeyars dynasty of Mysore who were ardent devotees of Lord Venugopala displayed keen interest in maintaining the hill temple

Bison Valley View Point: Overlook the magnificent massive bison live in complete peace with all around them, far from the madding crowds.

Location & Directions

Bandipur National Park, Karnataka

The Serai is located within the gates of the Bandipur National Park, in Karnataka, south India. Please note: The forest gates at Karnataka and Tamil Nadu close between 21:00 hrs to 06:00 hrs. Therefore the guests have to plan the drive accordingly.

When to go

Bandipur has a moderate climate throughout the year but the best time to visit is from October to May, when animals move freely in the park and can be see gathering at water sources.

Winters (November to February) are pleasant, with a temperature between 30 °C and 11 °C. Summers (March to May) are pretty hot, with temperatures ranging from 22 °C to 40 °C. However, this is a good time of year to spot wildlife in the park. Monsoons season (June to September) offer heavy rains and most visitors avoid these rainy days.